LA certification
Louisiana teacher certification
Louisiana reports 22 teaching credentials and 3 alternative routes to Title II, and licensed 1,775 new teachers in the latest year.
Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with Louisiana Department of Education.
Teaching credentials in Louisiana
Each row is a credential Louisiana reported to Title II. Initial means a first credential for a new teacher. Years is the length of validity.
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education (CTTIE 1) | Yes | 3 | Yes | 6-12 |
| Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education (CTTIE 2) | No | 5 | Yes | 6-12 |
| Level 1 Professional Certificate | Yes | 3 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Level 2 Professional Certificate | No | 5 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Level 2* Professional Certificate | No | 5 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Level 3 Professional Certificate | No | 5 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Level 3* Professional Certificate | No | 5 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Non-Public Temporary (T) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) | No | 3 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 4 | No | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 5 | No | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate | Yes | 3 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate 1 | Yes | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Practitioner License (PL1) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Practitioner License (PL2 ) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Practitioner License (PL3 ) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Resident Teacher Certificate (R) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 2 | No | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 3 | No | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| World Language Certificate (WLC) | Yes | 6 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
Requirements
Yes means the state reports the item as required for that credential. Tests shows only whether tests are required; Title II does not name the tests.
| Credential | Bachelor's | Master's | Education degree | Prep program | Tests | Performance assessment | Clinical | Coursework | Credit hours | Min. GPA | Transcripts | Employment | Mentoring | Recency | Background check | Fingerprint | Police check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education (CTTIE 1) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education (CTTIE 2) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Level 1 Professional Certificate | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Level 2 Professional Certificate | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Level 2* Professional Certificate | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Level 3 Professional Certificate | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Level 3* Professional Certificate | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Non-Public Temporary (T) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Out-of Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 4 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 5 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate 1 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Practitioner License (PL1) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Practitioner License (PL2 ) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Practitioner License (PL3 ) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Resident Teacher Certificate (R) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 2 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 3 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| World Language Certificate (WLC) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Verify a teaching license in Louisiana
Teaching licenses in Louisiana are verified on the lookup service run by Louisiana Department of Education. Search there by the teacher's name or certificate number to see current status.
PT3 does not verify licenses and holds no records of individual teachers.
Renewal
Renew times is how many times the credential can be renewed; renewal years is the length of each renewal.
| Credential | Renewable | Renew times | Renewal years | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education (CTTIE 1) | Yes | 2 | 1 | To qualify for renewal, teachers must complete the new instructor workshop (if applicable) and successfully meet the standards of effectiveness pursuant to Bulletin 130 and mandated by Act 54 of the Louisiana 2010 Legislative Session. (Bulletin 130 - http://bese.louisiana.gov/documents-resources/policies-bulletins) A current license must be held when a state or national license is required in the workplace. |
| Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education (CTTIE 2) | Yes | 99 | 5 | To qualify for renewal, teachers must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness for at least three years during the five-year initial or renewal period pursuant to Bulletin 130 and mandated by Act 54 of the Louisiana 2010 Legislative Session. (Bulletin 130 - http://bese.louisiana.gov/documents-resources/policies-bulletins) A current license must be held when a state or national license is required in the workplace. |
| Level 1 Professional Certificate | Yes | 2 | 1 | Valid for three years initially and may be extended thereafter for a period of one year at the request of a Louisiana employing authority. Level 1 certificates are limited to two such extensions. Teachers must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness for the renewal of this certificate pursuant to state law and Bulletin 130. |
| Level 2 Professional Certificate | Yes | 99 | 5 | To qualify for a five-year renewal, teachers must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness for three years pursuant to Bulletin 130 and mandated by Act 54 of the Louisiana 2010 Legislative Session. (Bulletin 130 - http://bese.louisiana.gov/documents-resources/policies-bulletins) |
| Level 2* Professional Certificate | Yes | 99 | 5 | A teacher must be found effective via a local evaluation for three years over the five-year time period during which he/she holds the certificate, or during the five-year time period immediately preceding the request for renewal. |
| Level 3 Professional Certificate | Yes | 99 | 5 | To qualify for a five-year renewal teachers must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness for three years out of the five years pursuant to Bulletin 130 and mandated by Act 54 of the Louisiana 2010 Legislative Session. (Bulletin 130 - http://bese.louisiana.gov/documents-resources/policies-bulletins) |
| Level 3* Professional Certificate | Yes | 99 | 5 | A teacher must be found effective via a local evaluation for three years over the five-year time period during which he/she holds the certificate, or during the five-year time period immediately preceding the request for renewal. |
| Non-Public Temporary (T) | Yes | 99 | 1 | The holder must earn six semester hours of professional coursework annually. Exception to this policy will be considered in the case of serious medical condition or unavailability of required coursework. |
| Out-of Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 4 | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 5 | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate 1 | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Practitioner License (PL1) | Yes | 2 | 1 | The candidate must remain enrolled in the practitioner teacher program and fulfill a minimum of six semester hours of coursework or equivalent contact hours per year (to the extent that required semester hours remain in the program to be completed), teaching assignments, and prescribed activities identified by the program provider. The request for renewal must be submitted by the program provider. |
| Practitioner License (PL2 ) | Yes | 2 | 1 | The candidate must remain enrolled in the certification-only alternate certification program and fulfill a minimum of six semester hours of coursework per year (to the extent that required semester hours remain in the program to be completed), teaching assignments, and prescribed activities identified by the program provider. The request for renewal must be submitted by the teacher preparation program. |
| Practitioner License (PL3 ) | Yes | 3 | 1 | The candidate must remain enrolled in the master's degree alternate certification program and fulfill a minimum of nine semester hours of coursework per year (to the extent that required semester hours remain in the program to be completed), teaching assignments, and prescribed activities identified by the program provider. The request for renewal must be submitted by the teacher preparation provider. |
| Resident Teacher Certificate (R) | Yes | 2 | 1 | Remain in one-year residency program as requested by the provider and successfully completes the Praxis II Content exam that is aligned with their program. |
| Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT) | Yes | 2 | 1 | a. the applicant provides evidence that the required exam(s) for admission into a teacher preparation program has been taken at least twice within the validity period of the TAT; b. the applicant provides evidence of meeting the standards of effectiveness pursuant to Bulletin 130; c. the employing school system submits the application on behalf of the applicant and provides an affidavit signed by the local superintendent verifying that good faith efforts for recruiting certified personnel have been made, including posting all positions for which TATs are issued; and d. there is no regularly certified, competent, and suitable person available for the position. |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) | Yes | 2 | 1 | An individual can be reissued a permit two times only if evidence is presented that the required exam has been retaken twice within one year from the date the permit was last issued. |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 2 | Yes | 1 | 1 | An individual can be reissued a permit one time only if evidence is presented that the required exam has been retaken twice within one year from the date the permit was last issued. |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 3 | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| World Language Certificate (WLC) | Yes | 99 | 6 | For renewal of a WLC certificate, candidates must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness for at least three years during the six-year initial or renewal period pursuant to state law and Bulletin 130. Candidate must also remain in the LDE Foreign Associate Teacher Program, and teacher world language and/or immersion in grades PK-12. |
Emergency and temporary credentials
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Public Temporary (T) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) | No | 3 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 4 | No | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 5 | No | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Resident Teacher Certificate (R) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 2 | No | 1 | Yes | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) 3 | No | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
Out-of-state teachers
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate | Yes | 3 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
| Out-of-State (OS) Certificate 1 | Yes | 1 | No | 1-5, 4-8, 6-12 |
Newly licensed teachers prepared out of state: 6.
Alternative routes
- Certification-Only Program (teach while completing)
- Master's Degree Program (teach while completing)
- Practitioner Teacher Program (teach while completing)
About Louisiana certification
INTRODUCTION
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and its partners in the Legislature, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), and Board of Regents (BOR) believe every student in Louisiana should be on track to a college degree or a professional career. Louisiana has therefore committed to preparing all students to achieve mastery and to be competitive with other students nationally and internationally. Specifically, Louisiana will steadily raise expectations for student achievement over the next ten years, so that all students are prepared for college or a career of their choice upon graduation. To meet this goal, Louisiana’s preparation programs are focusing on preparing new teachers whose students demonstrate growth in learning for success in college and careers. In collaboration with providers, districts, and the Board of Regents, the LDOE is also working to transform how teachers are prepared through competency-based instruction and full-year residencies with effective mentor teachers.
How to become a teacher in LouisianaLouisiana teacher preparation providers
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a teaching certificate in Louisiana?
Louisiana reports 22 credentials to Title II, 12 of them initial. 10 initial credentials require a bachelor's degree, 2 require a preparation program and 5 require tests. Apply through Louisiana Department of Education.
How do I verify a teaching license in Louisiana?
Licenses are verified on the lookup service run by Louisiana Department of Education. PT3 does not verify licenses.
Can I renew a Louisiana teaching certificate?
16 of 22 Louisiana credentials are reported as renewable. Renewal details by credential are listed in the Renewal section.
Does Louisiana issue emergency or temporary teaching certificates?
Yes. Title II lists 9: Non-Public Temporary (T); Out-of Field Authority to Teach (OFAT); Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 4; Out-of-Field Authority to Teach (OFAT) 5; Resident Teacher Certificate (R).
Can I teach in Louisiana with an out-of-state license?
Louisiana lists 2 credentials for out-of-state teachers: Out-of-State (OS) Certificate; Out-of-State (OS) Certificate 1.
Is there alternative teacher certification in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana reports 3 alternative routes to Title II.